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Bellingham-Ketchikan

From: 342,00

Destination(s) 🇺🇸 USA, Alaska
Distance 1200 km, 750 miles
Duration 41 hours
Operated by
Sailings Up to 2 times per week
2p+Car+Return in our estimation $ 3104
Categories: ,

The ferry from Bellingham and Ketchikan is the first 36 to 41-hour crossing you have to take if you want to reach Alaska by ferry. The number of sailings per week is heavily dependent on the low or high season.

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Everything about the Bellingham to Ketchikan ferry

As also mentioned in our ferry guide from Washington State to Alaska, the connection from Bellingham to Ketchikan is a route you must take to get to Alaska by ferry. It's the first crossing that simply ‘skips' mooring in Canada, which makes the ferry route a 100% US route.

Map with the route from Bellingham.


MV Colombia is the fastest ferry on this route.

The route takes about 41 hours, but these travel durations can change since it's a long ferry. Also, because there are three to four different ships on this route with different engines:

VesselSpeed (Knots)Passenger CapacityNumber of CabinsAdditional Detail
MV Columbia17.5Approx. 499104Largest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System, serving the Inside Passage.
MV Kennicott17Approx.49985Equipped with a solarium for passengers to enjoy panoramic views.
MV Matanuska16Approx. 499104Features a cafeteria and observation lounges for passengers.

From Bellingham to Ketchikan

Many travelers book this route ‘as part' of their route to Alaska, while Ketchikan is technically Alaska, it's not like the best endpoint, more like a starting point if you want to venture North to Alaska.

The Schedule of this ferry is very difficult to list or explain in a table, for this you really need to look up the schedule through a test booking. You can make these test bookings here.

Pricing on the Bellingham-Ketchikan ferry.

If you want to take the ferry to Bellingham or the other way around from Ketchikan to Bellingham the minimal price for a single trip for one person will be close to 450 dollars. It's difficult though to reach this low price as there are many things involved like scarcity and cabins you have to book. Also with or without a car makes a huge difference. One person with a car and a cabin looks like this:

car price to ketchikan from bellingham

As this route is mostly booked as a part of the entire trip, the total price can of course be much more.

FAQ

Which ferry companies sail on this crossing?

The ferry between Bellingham and Ketchikan is currently operated by: Alaska Marine Highway.

How long does the Bellingham-Ketchikan crossing take?

The travel time of the Bellingham-Ketchikan ferry is around: 41 hours. Please arrive early at the harbor and calculate extra time for check-in and boarding if necessary. How long in advance you need to be present is usually communicated on your ticket or on the website of the ferry operator you sail with.

How often does the Bellingham-Ketchikan ferry sail?

You can usually take the ferry from Bellingham to Ketchikan (or the ferry from Ketchikan to Bellingham) Up to 2 Times p/week. Depending on the season, the amount of people on the ferry and the weather forecast, the ferry company can deviate from the timetable/ferry schedule.

What is the distance between Bellingham and Ketchikan?

The distance between Bellingham and Ketchikan is approximately 745 miles or 1200 km.

Bellingham-Ketchikan
Bellingham-Ketchikan

From: 342,00

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